CHEYENNE — With the Cheyenne YMCA set to close indefinitely this week, it could be the right time to start pushing for a new recreation center for the capital city.
First opened in 1958, the “Y” building in east Cheyenne for years was a hub of activities, offering a roster of programs from swimming lessons for kids to weight loss for adults in addition to child care as well as the usual assortment of exercise equipment and classes.
Years of financial problems from maintenance and repair costs coupled with too few community benefactors and too few members have plagued the “Y.” (One estimate from an organization official was that it would take 1,000 members just to break even.)
Money from the Maury Brown Foundation kept the “Y” going a few years ago, but no other benefactors have rushed in to help during the recent crisis, according to published accounts.
For the past four years the Cheyenne center has been under the Northern Colorado YMCA, at substantial cost to the Colorado entity.
What happened to bring the organization to this failing position?
Low utilization, for one, was the result of the instability of the program, with the closings and openings confusing members.
Another is the abundance of other venues for people seeking exercise and wellness in Cheyenne.
However, many of these new offerings are limited to only exercise equipment.
The “Y” offered a full plate.
Assuming Cheyenne residents would like to have a center that is open year around and offers a lot of options for residents of all ages, the question is — are voters willing to pay for it?.
For a decade they have been mighty tight-fisted when voting.
This is strange because Cheyenne residents in general have been generous when it comes to Sixth Penny projects.
Other large Wyoming cites like Casper, Laramie, Gillette and Rock Springs have recreation centers. So do a number of small cities and towns.
Yet Cheyenne, the capital city, rejected three ballots calling for taxpayer-funded recreation centers, in 2008, 2012 and 2017.
In 2021 Cheyenne voters approved money for a gymnastics center, however.
As I recall, one of the earlier recreational center ballots failed because it was too lavish. After every public meeting, it seems the sponsors would add some new feature to the center.
There also was a squabble over locating the center in North Cheyenne rather than South Cheyenne.
At any rate, Cheyenne residents will have ample time to consider all the issues involved, because another proposition is still in the talking stages.
If it comes about, the center as usual will have competition for the sixth cent tax as Cheyenne City Council member Scott Royal pointed out to me last week in phone call.
One big one is a new pool on the south side to replace the old outdoor Johnson pool that had been in use for 70 years, or not quite as long as the Cheyenne “Y” building.
The pool is sure to be somebody’s priority.
Contact Joan Barron at 307-632-2534 or jmbarron@bresnan.net
